July 11, 2007 (Saint-Georges de Beauce, QC) – In sharp contrast to Monday’s rain-soaked Time Trials, Tuesday’s Espoir men and Elite women’s road races took place under bright sunny skies.

Espoir men were the first to roll out on at 10 am with a 56-strong field taking to the famous roads of the Beauce region of Quebec. The men were contesting a 120km road course before taking in two and half laps of the 7 kilometre finishing circuit for a total of 140 kms.

The first 20 kilometers of the U23 race were subdued, with a few riders attempting to break away but nothing would stick. But things changed at the 20km-mark as a group of eight riders including Sebastian Portion (ON), David Bergeron (QC, Blueberi-Martin Swiss), Kevin Hazzard (ON), Jean-Michel Lachance (QC, Garneau-Crocs), Ryan Beliveau (Caylon/Litespeed), Joel Dion-Poitras (EVA-Devinci), Eric Roberston (ON, Team RACE) managed to establish the break that would set the tone for the rest of the race.

The peloton rolled along at a good tempo but had little interest in making a concerted effort to chase down the break which was allowed a maximum an advantage of 4 minutes at one point. The race favourites were content to wait until the long climb towards the end of the course.

For those unfamiliar with the Beauce region of Quebec, a good description would be hilly. As riders would crest one climb, they could already see the next inspiring hill just up the road. Adding to the challenge are the cracked and bumpy nature of the roads in the Beauce region. Mavic neutral service was active throughout the race replacing wheels and fixing mechanicals brought on by the rough road surfaces.

As the final major climb approached, the pace of the peloton increased and the break was eventually reeled in as the group crested the climb at kilometre 98. It was also at this point that the race blew to pieces. Following some regrouping 20 riders including all of the pre-race favourites approached the long descent into the finishing circuits. Christian Meier (BC, Symmetrics) attacked the select group of 20 and Ryan Anderson (BC, Trek-Red Truck Racing) joined him.

Meier remarked after the race that he knew when he went that he had to commit fully to the move, it was all or nothing and Anderson agreed. Working well together was essential to the break’s success with Meier punching it up the tough climb on the finishing circuit and Anderson rolling through on the bottom half of the course.

The two entered the finishing circuits with a 9-second gap over the chase group and eventually crossed the line with Meier taking the win, making up for coming 2 seconds short of winning the time trial on Monday. Anderson improved on his forth place in the criterium to take second on the day. The rest of the chase group splintered on the final circuits with Eric Boily (EVA-Devinci) eventually taking the third spot on the podium 1.20 back. Meier was quite happy with his win and is looking forward to parlaying his title into some good results at BC Superweek, July 13-22.

For more 2007 U23 Road Nationals photos here.

Women’s RR

The women’s race took place in the afternoon and the strong contrast from the previous day’s weather at the time trial continued. Tuesday found the women hiding under trees and tents before the start of the race, only this time they weren’t seeking shelter from the storm, but from the heat of the sun. Hydration was obviously of great concern with temperatures hovering around 30 and very little shade on the hilly race route.

Shortly after the neutral start ended and before the real racing began, a large group of overly hydrated competitors stopped en masse for a bathroom break. The lead commissaire moved quickly to make sure that this was fine with an onlooking and somewhat amused local police officer nearby.

With the riders reintegrated in the main field the race got underway in earnest as Emilie Roy (QC, Vinci Specialized Menikini) launched an attack that was covered by Natasha Elliot (ON, The Cyclery). The two worked together and quickly established a gap. This is impressive as only a few short weeks ago, Roy crashed before the Montreal Women’s Road World Cup and was seen training during the Tour de PEI in mid-June with a cast on her wrist.

At the time she had only intended to contest the time trial, but with her wrist brace in place, Roy added the road race to her plans. At 47km she proceeded to drop Elliot and continue on her own with her gap on the field holding at around 1.20. The peloton continued to cruise along, content to let Roy ride out front, until around kilometre 80 when Team Expresscopy amassed on the front of the group and began to chase.

Following this, her gap rapidly dropped and it looked as if Roy was going to be caught. However, with 40 kilometres to go, Krystal Jeffs (Team Ontario) bridged up to Roy with Gina Grain (Team Expresscopy.com) followed a few minutes later. Moriah MacGregor (BC, AE Sport Development) and Marni Hambleton (BC, Symmetrics) followed Grain and as the race approached the finishing circuits the group of five worked well together to hold off the awakened field.

As the race hit the final circuits it blew apart. Eventual seventh place finishe Leigh Hobson (ON, Diet Cheerwine) commented that the first of the three times up the hill was by far the hardest. After that, a small chase group was formed and the rest of the competitors were in groups of two and three riders.

In the sprint finish Grain, who up until this point was known more for her track skills, fended off Hambelton for the win with MacGregor coming across the line in third. Jeffs, whose bridge to Roy was the catalyst that lead to the winning break, was dropped on the first of the two and half circuits and rolled across the line five minutes back. She commented that when she went back to her team car to grab a bottle they told her to try something, so she went for it. Next year she plans on coming back and making it stick.

Roy who spent the entire day off the front of the pack commented that it was very hard but she was fit and wanted to try something. Last years winner Alex Wrubleski (Colvaita/Sutter Home) looked strong throughout the race but rolled across the line sixth having missed the winning break.

For more 2007 Elite Women’s Road Nationals photos here.